Uncurler guide for sewing machines



NOV. 7, w PF F R ET AL UNCURLER GUIDE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 31, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4 \ill;

3- w. PFEIFFER El AL 1,934,275

UNCURLER GUIDE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 31, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 7, 1933 7 1,934,275 UNCURLER some res sswmo MACHINES Vl'illlam Pfeiifer, Philadelphia, Pa., and Ralph D. Bender-o, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Union Special Machine Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois" Application May 31, 1930. Serial No. 458,617

11 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements m guides for sewing machines, and more particularly to an uncurler guide used in connection with a sewing machine where the fabric sections to be actuated are supported by feed wheels rotated about vertical axes. In the application filed by John S. Chipman, April 15, 1930, Serial No. 444.583. there is shown and described an uncm'ling device or guide which will operate upon the curling edgesof fabric sections placed face to face to roll and uncurl said edges outwardly and thus place the edge portions flat against each other for stitching. The present invention has to do with an improvement in an uncurler of the type shownin this application. An object of the invention is to provide a guide of the above type with an uncurling member located between the fabric sections and having its edges which engage and llIlCLlll the edge portions of the fabric sections inclinedtoward each other so that the fabric sections may be spaced as they are led into the guide and leave said guide substantially in contact.

A further object of the invention is to provide an uncurier guide of the above type whereinthe edges of said uncurling member are gradually uncurling member are gradually curved outwardly so as to positively uncurl the edge portions of the fabric sections until they are placed in parallel relation to each other.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an uncurler guide of the above type with presser members which have their edges adjacent the active uncurling edges of the center meinber similarly shaped and curved.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an uncurler guide of the above type wherein the central uncurler member is extended do i wardly and forwardly beneath the pressure members to facilitate the directing of the fabric sections into said uncurler.

A still further object of the invention is to'provide an uncurler guide of the above type wherein the uncurling member extends forwardly of the presser members and is provided with supporting fins in line with the active uncurling edges of said center member.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fullydisclosed.

' In the drawings which shown by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 1 is a side view of an uncurling guide embodying the improvements;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig i'is a rear view of the uncurling guide;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side view of the center uncurling member;

Fig. 6 is a'view showing more or less diagrammatically the active portion of the uncurler guide, the fabric and the feed wheel;

i is a sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 6, and g Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

The invention is directed to a guide having uncurling devices used in conjunction with a cup feed type of machine. The machine may be of any desired construction, and includes feed cups 0 or feed wheels which rotate about vertical axes which support and feed the fabric sections as they are being stitched. The'fabric sections are stitched by horizontally reciprocating means. H

The threaded looper cooperates with the needle in forming overedge stitches. Located in front of the feed wheels is a guide for guiding the edges of the fabric sections. In the application of John's. Chipman referred to above a guide is shown which is adapted to receive the. fabric sections'with the curling edges thereof placed face to face and as the fabric sections pass through this guide the edges are uncurled and laid flat against each other and thus presented to the stitching mechanism.

The present invention is directed to a guide of this type and resides in the construction of the inner uncurling member which operates to uncurl the edge portions of the fabric sections and the cooperating presser members. The center uncurling member projects in front of the presser members and is of sufficient width so as to separate the fabric sections received by the guide and give ample room-to operate upon thecurled edges thereof for unrolling the same. At the forward end of this center uncurling member are suppcrting fins over which the curling portions are directed and these fins aid in the supporting of the fabric sections. The fins per se form no part of the present invention. The edges of this center uncurling member in rear of these supporting fins incline inwardly toward each other and sub stantially meet at the rear end of this center uncurling member. The fabric sections pass 7 along these edges and will pass out from the guide 1 substantially in contact with each other. The outer face of this center uncurling member is curved upwardly so that the edges thereof will curl and positively unroll the curling portions of the fabric sections. The center uncurler has a depending portion in advance of the presser members which is tapered downwardly to a meeting point and this depending portion aids the operator in the guiding of the fabric sections.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the unctuler includes a center plate 1 which is pivoted at 2 to a bracket carried by the frame of the machine. Said bracket is provided with a disk 3 having notches 4 therein. The center plate is provided with a lever 5 having a nose adapted to engage the notches in the bracket for securing the guide in an operative position and also in an inoperative position. This type of support for the guide forms no part of the present invention, but is shown and described in the patent granted to Ralph A. Vine, November 19, 1918, No. 1,285,462,.

and further descriptionv of the relation of the guide to the machine and the support therefor is not thought necessary.

The center plate 1 is provided with an uncurling member 6. Associated with this central uncurling member are two presser members 7, '7 located at opposite sides thereof. Each presser member is pivoted to the center plate by means of a pivot bolt 8 passing through bars 9, 9 carried by the center plate and through a sleeve 10 formed as a part of the presser member. The presser members are yieldingly forced into contact with the foot portion of this center uncurling member by means of springs 11, 11 one for each presser member. Extending through the center plate is a rod 12 which is threaded and at each end of the rod is an adjusting nut 13 which may be used for limiting the movement of the presser members through the action of the springs. Thus it is that the presser members may set slightly out of contact with the center uncurling member so as to facilitate the passing of fabric sections through the guide.

The invention is directed particularly to the shaping of this center uncurling member and also to the cooperating portions of the presser members. The uncurling member 6 is provided with a portion 14 which projects in front of the presser members 7. Said forwardly projecting portion 14 extends downwardly as indicated at 14*. This portion of .the uncurler member is tapered downwardly to substantially a point at its lower edge. The upper edge portion .is substantially fiat as indicated at 14 Alongside of this flat upper portion of the forward end of' the center uncurlermember are supporting fins 15a, 15a, and other supporting fins 15, 15. Theuncurler member 6 is provided with side faces 16, 16 which are inclined toward each other in the direction of movement of the fabric through the uncurler and these side faces substantially meet as indicated at 17 in Figs. 3 and 4. The upper edges of these side faces 16, 16 are slightly curved upwardly from a point a to the point b, see Figs. 5 and 6. The upper face of the uncurling member from the point a to the point D is substantially flat all the way across. The outer faces of the center uncurling member in the region of the forward end of the presser members are also tapered toward each other in a downward direction as clearly shown in Fig. 8. This is to facilitate the insertion of the fabric sections and also to provide relatively sharp or right angle edges along the center uncurler member which becomes active to unroll the curled edge portions of the fabric sections. The inner faces of the presser members at the forward ends thereof are inclined outwardly and downwardly and the rear portions inclined toward each other so that the rear ends of the presser members '7 are only separated by the thin edge of the center uncurling member and the thicknesses of the fabric sections. This holds the fabric sections flat against the center member and causes the fabric sections to be placed flat one against the other before there is any opportunity for the edge portions to recurl. They are held thus fiat against each other as they pass between the feed wheels. The distance from the rear edge of the guide to the stitching point is comparatively short.

In thedrawings the feed wheel is indicated in broken lines. The fabric sections are indicated at F, F. The curling edge of the fabric section F is indicated at I and the curling edge of the fabric section F is indicated at I. As these fabric sections are directed to the guide the curling portions of the fabric sections face each other. The curled edges are guided and supported by the advance fins 15a, 15a, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. The depending portion at the forward end of the center member serves as a finger support forthe operator. The operator places her fingers on opposite sides of the fabric sections passing along this center member and lightly holds the fabric sections against this depending member. As the fabric sections pass the rear fins1 5 the active uncurling edges between a and b of the center member 6 engage the respective curled edges and unroll the same. In Fig. 8 these edges f are shown as being unrolled as they progressively engage these curved edges 16 and finally they are completely unrolled before the rear ends b of the edges are reached.

The guides are provided with the usual guide or stop pin lQ-which prevents the 'edgesfromriding up into the guide and directs the edges so that they will be passed between the feed wheels properly for the needle to enter and join the edges of the fabric sections. v

It will be noted from the above that the edges 16 of the center uncurling member are continuously operating upon the curled edge portions of the fabric sections as they pass through the guide and the edges which are first positioned substantially horizontally, as shown in Fig. 8, are gradually forced to the vertical position where they are completely unrolled and may be placed flat against each other. The presser members will hold these edges in this unrolled condition and place the fabric sections as they issue from the guide fiat against each other. It will also be noted thatas the edges are being positively uncurled they are gradually fed toward each other so that after the uncurling action has been completed they may be passed out of the guide fiat against each other. It will also be noted that the presser members '7, '7 have their upper faces inclined and curved so that fabric sections with outwardly curling portions could be passed through this uncurler, and the edge portions uncurled and placed flat against each other for stitching. V

'The downwardly and inwardly inclining of the 3;

side faces of the uncurler at the receiving end, and also the downwardly and outwardly inclining of the inner faces of the presser members at their receiving ends greatly aids in the inserting a of the fabric sections for the maintaining of a stitching operation.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. r

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:--

1. A fabric guiding and uncurling device for sewing machines comprising a center member for engaging and unrolling the inwardly curling portions of the fabric sections, and presser members cooperating therewith, said center uncurling member being shaped so as to space the fabric sections received thereby and having edges inclining rearwardly toward each other and curved upwardly for engaging and unrolling the edge portions of the fabric sections.

2. A fabric guiding and uncurling device for sewing machines comprising a center member for engaging and unrolling the inwardly curling portions of the fabric sections, and presser members cooperating therewith, said center uncurling member being shaped so as to space the fabric sections received thereby and having edges inclining rearwardly toward each other and curved upwardly for engaging and unrolling the edge .portions of the fabric sections, the side faces of said center uncurling member being inclined toward each other and substantially meeting at the rear end of said member.

3. A fabric guiding and uncurling device for I sewing machines comprising a center member for engaging and unrolling the inwardly curling portions of the fabric sections, and presser members cooperating therewith, said center uncurling member being shaped so as to space the fabric sections received thereby and having edges inclining rearwardly toward each other and curved upwardly for engaging and unrolling the edge portions of the fabric sections, said presser members having the upper faces thereof in the region I of the uncurling edges of the center member shaped to conform to the upper face of the center member and arranged on a level therewith.

4. A fabric guiding and uncurling device for sewing machines comprising a center member for engaging and unrolling the inwardly curling portions of the fabric sections, and presser members cooperating therewith, said center uncurling member being shaped so as to space the fabric sections received thereby and having edges in- 1 clining rearwardly toward each other and curved upwardly for engaging and unrolling the edge portions of the fabric sections, said center uncurling member being provided with supporting fins for receiving the curled edge portions and supporting the fabric sections thereby.

5. A fabric guiding and uncurling device for sewing machines comprising a center member for engaging and unrolling the inwardly curling portions of the fabric sections, and presser members cooperating therewith, said center uncurling member being shaped so as to space the fabric sections received thereby and having edges inclining rearwardly toward each other and curved upwardly for engaging and unrolling the edge portions of the fabric sections, said center uncurling member having the faces thereof at its forward end inclined toward each other downwardly and meeting at the lower edge thereof.

6. A fabric guiding and uncurling device for i sewing machines comprising a center member for engaging and unrolling the inwardly curling portions of the fabric sections, and presser memers cooperating therewith, said center uncurling member being shaped so as to space the fabric sections received thereby and having edges inclining rearwardly toward each other and curved upwardly for engaging and unrolling the edge portions of the fabric sections, said center uncurling member projecting forwardly'from said presser members and provided with a portion projecting downwardly from said center member for guiding the fabric sections.

7. A fabric guiding and uncurling device for sewing machines comprising a center. member for engaging and unrolling the inwardly curling portions of the fabric sections, and presser members cooperating therewith, said center uncurling member being shaped so as to space the fabric sections received thereby and having edges inclining rearwardly toward each other and curved upwardly for engaging and unrolling the edge portions of the fabric sections, said center member having the side faces thereof inclined downwardly toward each other and the inner side faces of the presser members at the forward ends thereof inclined downwardly and outwardly so as to aid in the inserting of the fabric sections in said guide.

8. A fabric guiding and uncurling device for sewing machines comprising a center member for engaging and unrolling the inwardly curling portions of the fabric sections, and presser members cooperating therewith, said center uncurling member projecting in front of the presser members and having a depending curved portion for aiding in the guiding and directing of the fabric sections, said center member having at the forward end thereof fins for engaging the curled portions of the fabric sections for supporting the fabric sections.

9. A fabric guiding and uncurling device for sewing machines comprising a center member for engaging and unrolling the'inwardly curling por-- .tions of the fabric sections, and presser members cooperating therewith, said center uncurling member having a substantially flat top face with a wide forward end and edges which'incline from the forward end toward each other and terminating in upwardly curving lines, said center member having its side faces inclined corresponding to the inclination of said edges and meeting substantially at a line at the rear endof said center member. f

10. A fabric guiding and uncurling device'for sewing machines comprising a center member for engaging and unrolling the inwardly curling portions of the fabric sections, and presser members cooperating therewith, said center uncurling member, having a substantially flat top face with a wide forward end and edges which incline from the forward end toward each other and terminating in upwardly curving lines, said center member having its side faces inclined corresponding to the inclination of said edges and meeting substantially at a line at the rear end of said center member, said presser members having their upper faces shaped to conform to the upper face of the center uncurling member and their side faces substantially parallel with the side faces of said center member.

11. A fabric guiding and uncurling device for sewing machines comprising a center member for engaging and unrolling the inwardly curling portions of the fabric sections, and presser members cooperating. therewith, said center uncurling member having a substantially fiat top face with a wide forward end and edges which incline from the forward end toward each other and terminating in upwardly curving lines, said center member having its side faces inclined corresponding to'the inclination of said edges and meeting subtantially at a line atthe rear end of said center membepj'said presser members having their upper face; shaped toconformto the upper face of the center uncurling member and their side faces sublatantially parallel with the side faces of said center member, said center member at the forward end thereof having its facesinclined down- 

